Employee charged with $108G theft

Police say Scotia woman embezzled money from tire store over two years

BY CHRISTEN GOWAN Staff writer

Published 1:00 am, Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Photo: PHILIP KAMRASS

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Michelle Payette, a long-time employee of Adirondack Tire, was arraigned on charges that accuse her of embezzling more than $100,000 from the Colonie-based tire chain, Town of Colonie court on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union) less

Michelle Payette, a long-time employee of Adirondack Tire, was arraigned on charges that accuse her of embezzling more than $100,000 from the Colonie-based tire chain, Town of Colonie court on Monday, Oct. 19, ... more

Photo: PHILIP KAMRASS

Employee charged with $108G theft

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COLONIE — A longtime employee of Adirondack Tire Centers is facing charges that she allegedly embezzled over $100,000 from the company over a two-year period, police said.

Colonie police said Michelle L. Payette, 43, of Crooked Street in Scotia, stole $108,505.15 from Adirondack Tire over two-year period beginning in 2007. The embezzlement involved Payette issuing herself checks and using the company credit card for personal reasons.

Police said Payette, who has worked as the company's bookkeeper for the last 20 years, would attempt to hide the thefts by altering the company's books. She is facing seven felony counts of grand larceny and one count of falsifying business records. Town police said the alleged thefts took place at the company's offices at 198 Morris Road.

Payette's attorney, Andrew Safranko, said there is more to Payette's story that he couldn't say on Monday. "This case is far from over," Safranko said after the arraignment. "There is more to this story." Safranko said the charges resulted from a recent company audit.

Payette turned herself in to police Monday night and was arraigned shortly thereafter in front of Judge Susan Tatro. The defendant showed no emotion during her court appearance. Her bail was set at $25,000, which she immediately posted.

Company owner Larry O'Shea said Payette will be fired. "We have zero tolerance for this," said O'Shea, the owner of the 31-year business.

Staff writer Robert Gavin contributed to this report. Christen Gowan can be reached at 454-5350 or by e-mail at cgowan@timesunion.com.